Between Feb. 20 and March 1, Tractor Supply customers supported local FFA chapters and their members by purchasing an FFA emblem for $1; 90 percent of the funds will fund scholarships and 10 percent will benefit state FFA organizations, according to the release from Tractor Supply.

QEP Resources offers $20,000 scholarship

QEP Resources Inc., an independent oil and gas operator active in the Permian Basin, is offering a four-year, $20,000 scholarship to an area high school student.

The scholarship supports students pursuing a Science, Technology, Education and Math degree in an energy-related field, such as geoscience, engineering, chemistry, physics or mathematics.

Eligibility criteria include:

- Applicants must graduate in spring 2015 from a high school in QEP’s service area: Andrews, Grady, Lee, Midland and Stanton high schools.

- Preferential consideration will be given to students who plan to pursue a career in the energy industry, as evidenced by course work and volunteer service or extracurricular activities.

Application deadline is April 15.

For more information or to obtain an application, contact Shanda Vangas, manager of QEP Community Investments & Partnerships at 303-595-5929 or QEPCares@qepres.com.

Students mistakenly receive TSU brochures

SAN MARCOS — Hundreds of prospective students wrongly received acceptance brochures to Texas State University in an error blamed on a mailing service.

KVUE-TV reported Tuesday that more than 450 potential students received the congratulatory documents last week.

An official with the school in San Marcos said a third-party mailing service made the mistake. The informational brochure had details on orientation and directed students how to choose the right dormitory for TSU, with enrollment topping 36,000.

School authorities said the brochures went out to potential students who applied but their documents were incomplete. Some of the students have since completed their applications and were accepted, while others were denied enrollment.

TSU officials were mailing letters this week to all of the individuals acknowledging the error and clarifying their enrollment status.

NMSU regents OK tuition, fee increase

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — New Mexico State University’s Board of Regents has voted to approve a 2.4 percent blended increase in tuition and fees for the 2015-16 academic year.

Regents also asked university officials on Monday to create a proposal for a four-year guaranteed tuition rate program.

They also want the school to review whether student employees can be utilized to cover certain duties assigned to positions considered for possible elimination and move the university’s benchmarking to four-year graduation standards instead of six years.

The approved tuition increase is within an agreement with the Associated Students of New Mexico State University, which limits tuition and fee increases to 6 percent or less per year from 2015-2019.

The hike translates to an additional $72 per semester for an in-state undergraduate student carrying 12 credit hours.